Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Insert witty title here:
With one week left for the PBL I hope this will be an easy blog to respond to. I want you to discuss the satire that you have noticed in the texts studied so far. You can focus on one text or several as long as you follow the blog rubric. What is the message being delivered through satire? Do you think satire is an effective way of conveying a message? Or do you think authors should just speak plainly of their views?
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Satire plays a huge role in eighteenth century literature. Many writers used this literary tool to try to invoke change in the English society. A couple of key factors played a role in the British community during this time period, which satire was used against. Mainly, authors wrote works of satire in order to combat the pettiness and power of nobility and extreme poverty. I have noticed the biggest use of satire within Jonathon Swift's "Gulliver's Travels" and also his "A Modest Proposal."
ReplyDeleteJonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal" suggests the repulsive yet practical idea of devouring infants. He thought this idea practical because rather than allowing these infants to age into adults that would pollute society even further, they could be eaten. This would give them a purpose and also solve the issue of their continuing to live just to become thieves or beggars. Swift goes on to descibe the benefits that this new market would have for the English. Jonathan says, "For first, as I have already observed, it would greatly lessen the number of papists, with whom we are yearly overrun. . . Secondly, The poorer tenants will have something valuable of their own, which by law may be made liable to distress and help to pay their landlord's rent. . . Thirdly, Whereas the maintenance of an hundred thousand children, from two years old and upward, cannot be computed at less than ten shillings a-piece per annum, the nation's stock will be thereby increased fifty thousand pounds per annum." Within these stated reasons, Swift capitalizes on the fact that this idea would not only aid the people receiving monetary compensation for their children, but also the whole of the British economy. He also feels that it would improve the issue of domestic violence. Swift says: "This would be a great inducement to marriage, which all wise nations have either encouraged by rewards or enforced by laws and penalties. It would increase the care and tenderness of mothers toward their children. . . Men would become as fond of their wives during the time of their pregnancy as they are now of their mares in foal." Swift knows that the hope of making a profit would lighten any ill feelings that families might feel towards each other during times as hard as those of this time period.
The message being delivered through the satire found in "A Modest Proposal" is that so many people had no means to an end. Most of the British during this era lived in poverty and did not have any hope of ending the cycle that their own lives took. Swift wanted to instill the sense of urgency he felt for making life better for the poor and ultimately, the whole province of Great Britain. I think that satire is a good way of delivering a message such as this. It makes a big impact that sticks with the reader, rather than just an idea that will quickly fall out of someone's memory.
Victoria Tindol
There are many impressive satire in 18th literatures.It's easy to miss it if you read literature without paying careful attention. Return to the main subject, there were two literatures that impressed me most. 'Letter to Lord Chesterfield' and 'The Vulture' by Samuel Johnson.
ReplyDelete'Letter fo Lord Chesterfield' has an very interesting background. Before Samuel Johnson made dictionary, he went to Lord Chesterfield to ask to become a sponsor. But Lord Chesterfield didn't even meet him and Samuel Johnson went back to house without an outcome. 'Seven years, my Lord, have now passed since I waited in your outward rooms, or was repulsed from your door...' After Samuel Johnson finished dictionary, Lord Chesterfield recommended to the public Samuel Johnson's Dictionary. Samuel Johnson was so mad that he wrote this letter by 'thanking' Lord Chesterfield. Throughout whole letter, I could feel how mad he was and how hard his life was when he went to ask Lord Chesterfield being a patron. And it was very satire of Samuel by saying 'your lordship's most humble, most obedient servant, Samuel Johnson.
'The Vulture', another work by Samuel Johnson, is also very satire but also very a good story of lesson. He reveals that many naturalist found out that birds can communicate and one of them know vultures' sounds. He claims that it was a mother vulture and her child vulture talking about how to get men meat. The mother instructed her child that men kill each other but don't eat the others. And this habit of human is beneficial to their species. 'Man.. is the only beast who kills what which he does not devour, and this quality makes him so much a benefactor to our species.' And the mother vulture calls human as a appearance of anumal life and yet really are vegetables with a power of motion.
The satire could be once just laughing for us, but when we ruminate upon these, we can get great lesson of life. And I thought these two are very interesting and important message for us now.
Besun Lee
If I were to pick any story from the ones I have read that would be satirized it would be “Modest Proposal.” In the story Jonathan Swift is making fun of the royals by saying how they would buy and eat children because they were hungry had heartless for the poor. He also tells of Americans or barbarians eating children as well. He writes, “I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nourished is at a year old a most delicious…serve in a fricassee or ragout.”
ReplyDeleteSwift is not literally writing about barbarians eating children but he is using satire to make fun of the royal class which would have been funny to the poor class. He list funny facts about how and when they would eat the children he writes saying, “Infant’s flesh will be in season throughout the year, but more plentiful in March.” I like the way writers use satire to help the reader or audience see what the poet wants them to see. To me it is kind of like a parable which one has to seek the answer.
Bryan Lewis
Edible Babies
ReplyDeleteSome people may have an abortion or place their baby up for adoption. But in “A Modest Proposal” Swift gives the thought to his readers of eating their young. I think that Swift needs to speak more clearly because the thoughts and ideas he gives are ridicules. “That the remanding hundred thousand may at a year old be offered in sale to the persons of quality, and fortune, through the kingdom, always advising the mother to let them suck plentifully in the last month, so as to render them plump, and fat for a good table.”
“Those who are more thrifty (as I must confess the times require) may flay the carcass; the skin of which, artificially dressed, will make admirable gloves for ladies, and summer boots for fine gentlemen.” Once they have eaten the year old babies, they use what is left over for boots and gloves. It makes me think that Swift is very cold hearted. I still think he needs to be more open with what he is really trying to say.
How does one consider a human being useless, when God gave us that joy in our life? “First, as things now stand, how they will be able to find food and raiment for an hundred thousand useless mouths and backs.” Swift has a very unique way for saying things but I still get this feeling that he is cold hearted and cruel to do that to a one year old baby.
Jonathan Swift’s message in “A Modest Proposal is how the poor people are being taken advantage of by the rich. Swift also speaks about the shambles that Ireland is in. He offers a horrifying way to cut down the poor human population and then offers how they can make money to pay their landlord’s. I think that his ideas are a very sick way to convey a message about a very serious problem. If you have something to say, speak clearly so people don’t have to stop and think what it is you want them to know.
Tabitha Howell
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAs i know,Satire poem is a kind of humorous poem,but not be confused,the poets express the tragic feeling indeed.
ReplyDeleteIn many of the poems,A Modest Proposal is particularly shocking because although the idea is obviously grotesque, it is basically a good idea which would solve many of Ireland's problems. the poet expresses satire here is probably the governing body of Ireland,who had recently imposed heavy duty on livestock and forbidden the export of wool, thus making life extremely difficult for the Irish peasants. Swift feels that Ireland is in such a state of turmoil that the only way to remedy it is by employing extreme methods. He is also satirizing the lack of concern which the rich have for the problems of the poor.
Satire is seen throughout the literature of the 18th century. For example, Jonathan greatly uses satire in his story "Gulliver's Travels." The Lilliputians made a law that everyone must brake his or her egg on the small side. However, some people didn't like that, so they went over to Blefuscu because they broke their eggs on the smaller side. "Whereupon the Emperor his father published an edict, commanding all his subjects, upon great penalties, to break the smaller end of their eggs."(pg. 494) Swift satirizes the ridiculous fighting going on between England and France over unimportant matters. "...a bloody war has been carried on between the two empires for six and thirty moons with various success...."(pg. 494) Swift uses several other examples in "Gulliver's Travels."
ReplyDeleteSwift also uses satire in his story "A Modest Proposal." Here he satirizes the wealthy landlords who charge too much rent, and ultimately are the cause of many families starvation. He suggests that babies one year old sould be sold to the wealthy landlords so the servants will make money, and the landlords will have new food. "...the remaining hundred thousand may at a year old be offered in sale to the persons of quality, and fortune, through the kingdom, always advising the mother to let them suck plentifully in the last month, so as to render them plump, and fat for a good table.(pg. 504) He satirizes the horrible economic system in Ireland and the selfishness of the English landlords. He also satirizes the prejudices of the Protestants toward the Catholics by saying there will be less Catholics if they are eaten for dinner at one year old.
Samuel Johnson also uses satire in his story "The Vulture." I believe he satirizes war. He says vultures kill their prey to eat while men kill just to kill. He says, "When you hear noise and see fire, with flashes along the ground, hasten to the place with your swiftest wing, for men are surely destroying one another; you will then find the ground smoking with blood and covered with carcasses...." He is saying men kill for no reason. He also says, "When you see men in great numbers moving close together, like a flock of storks, you may conclude that they are hunting, and that you will soon revel in human blood...Others think they have observed something of contrivance and policy among these mischievous beings; and those that hover more closely round them, pretend, that there is, in every herd, one that gives directions to the rest, and seems to be more eminently delighted with a wide carnage." Johnson, as well as Swift, uses satire to show flaws in society in hopes of changing it.
Leah Robbins
Satire is a very important literary element used throughout the works we are studying. Satire is a kind of writing that ridicules human weakness, etc. I believe satire is imporant because it grabs the readers attentiona and allows them to understand the true meaning behind the authors work. If the author told his readers the theme straight forward , he would not stand out as a successful writer or his work would possibly not be very popular if he did not use satire. Satire helped the author make his main point without directly stateing it.
ReplyDeleteOne main author that used strong satire is Alexandar Pope in the "Rape of Lock." In the "Rape of Lock," two upper class families gather together to enjoy each others company while playing card games. In a jokingly matter Clarrisa hands Robert or "the Baron" a pair of scissors to cut Belinda hair because he likes her and wants to get her attention. After it took him three times to cut her hair, he was finally successful. When Belinda discovers the terrbile incident she react, "Then flashed the living lightning from her eyes, and screams of horror rend th' affrighted skies." Thr Baron ,on the other hand, felt as if he had won a prize and rejoiced in cutting her hair. Both sides of the family start to agrue at each other and the small party becomes a patry of chaos. Pope is displaying how the royalist actually do not have class and instead of discussing the issue, they blame each other. He wanted to expose how the royalist really act when they are behind closed doors. After a while of agruing, Clarrisa (the one who gave the Baron the sicssors and started everything) steps in and trys to bring reason to the chaos. Soon, both families are fine and Belinda and the Baron are now in strong like. The Baron got what he wanted, Belinda. The satire shows how the royalist care more about their looks than anything else and how they can mad at each other one moment, then "friends" the next. Alexandar Pope use of satire made fun of the royalist in a unique way.
In "A Modest Propsal," Jonathan Swift's use of satire is far from anything but modest. In this essay, he gives soultions to problems and the upper class would react. He says that girls should be killed because boys are stronger and will be more useful. He says that mothers don't have time for working because they are too busy begging on the streets. One of Swift's solution is to sell infants at age one and to use one male to service four females. He is not bothered by the selling of children because they are dying every day. Swift's solution for selling children, "it would lessen the number of papists." Secondly, "the poor tenants will have something valuable...and help to pay their landlord;s rent." Third, they will maake money to help pay for food and clothing. Fourth," will rid of the charge of maintaining them after the first year." He also gives a fifth and sixth lesson. He also stays that the royalist would start to wear babies flesh as fashion, " Infants flesh will be in season throughout the year..." Jonathan's use of satire made him a outstanding writer.
The use od satire is essential for the authors to convey their actual opinions on the subjests they are writing about.
the last entry is from Lenora Taylor
ReplyDeleteMany English writers in 18th century used satire in their writings. Most of their literatures talk about absurdity of society and government and moral corruption. By using satire to talk about those things, 18th century English writers invoke public attention and emphasize their messages.
ReplyDeleteSatire is very powerful weapon in literature. It can deliver a message without a meaning of offense but with wit and humor. I believe that satire is one of the effective ways of conveying a message. One of the greatest writers that used satire is Jonathan swift. He used dramatic satire to convey that poor livings on the Ireland and to get public attention. In his writing “Modest Proposal”, swift describes how bad the situations of poor people are. He says that “… instead of being a charge upon their parents, or the parish, or wanting food and raiment for the rest of their lives, they shall, on the contrary, contribute to the feeding and partly to the clothing of many thousands.” It indicates that those who have babies cannot afford their food and clothing. Moreover he says that “… that it will prevent those voluntary abortions, and that horrid practice of women murdering their bastard children…” He portrays that those who have abortion because they are not able to afford all the things for their baby.
However, satire is not always an effective way of conveying writer’s message. Sometimes it is needed to know the background of the events to fully understand satire. Also to those who do not understand the meaning of satire that author uses, it conveys nonsense and wrong message. In the “Letter to Lord Chesterfield”, Samuel says that “To be so distinguished is an honor which, being very little accustomed to favors from the great, I know not well how to receive, or in what terms to acknowledge.” To me without reading the back ground of it, I felt that lord Chesterfield’s patron did greatly helped on Samuel Johnson to finish his work, “Dictionary”, which is not the truth. Moreover in the end of this letter, he says that “The shepherd in Virgil grew at last acquainted with Love, and found him a native of the rocks.” It made nonsense to me. He talks about lord Chesterfield, and suddenly he talks about shepherd. I found out that shepherd indicates lord chesterfield, but still I had no idea why Samuel mentions shepherd.
Danny Jung
In "The Rape Of The Lock," Pope satirizes the rich, fashionable circle in the 18th century of England. Belinda's life revolves around games and flirting with the men. Also, the Pope describes the jurymen who wish to hang a man just so they can go to lunch.“The hungry judges soon the sentence sign,And wretches hang that jurymen may dine” This is not only a horrible way of viewing politics, but its also morally and ethically wrong because they view lunch more important than a man's justice. Pope's dissatisfied view of this society is evident and it is obvious that he wished to reform it by this work. The society he pictured is the 18th century fashionable English society that cares for nothing other than earthly pleasures and frivolities youth, beauty, and the opposite sex.
ReplyDeleteI have mixed feelings toward satire in literature. I have a hard time seeing it unless I'm told that it is something that I need to look for it. So, I would have to say that it isn't an effective way to convey a message in stories. The message in "The Rape of The Lock" makes sense to me now, but at the time it was difficult for me to understand. However, now that I understand the literature the point that Pope was trying to makes is obvious.
Blair Hand
Several of the authors use satire to convey their message in a subtle way. One must think deeply to uncover the hidden meanings behind each selection of literature. Many of the authors chose to focus on only one area yet others discussed a broad spectrum of topics. Authors such as Pepys and Swift decided to satirize the 18th century government, whereas, Johnson chose to satirize human behaviors.
ReplyDeleteIn Gulliver’s Travels, Swift uses mundane conflicts in the story to represent some of the trivial matters that have divided countries for years. Swift uses Gulliver’s experience in Brobdingnag to highlight these petty issues. The king “took a pleasure in conversing with me, inquiring into the manners, religion, laws, government, and learning of Europe....” (Swift, 497). After answering the king’s many questions, Gulliver finds that the king mocks some of the customs and habits of his country. “’I dare engage, those creatures have their titles and distinctions of honor, they contrive little nests and burrows…they love, they fight, they dispute, the cheat, they betray,’” (Swift, 497). Part two of Gulliver’s Travels requires a deep study of the story and issues of Swift’s time before one can really see the satire.
The authors’ use of satire to communicate their ideas of government, politics, and religion has proven to be quite effective. Criticisms never seem quite as harsh when they are put in another context such as a story or other forms of literature. The authors took note of this fact and used their creativity to criticize institution in an indirect, entertaining way. Their message is still quite clear, but they do not face harsh counter-attacks as most people do when they pass judgment on such large institutions. I think their creative way of presenting their ideas makes them more presentable and enjoyable.
that last comment was by Halli Spraggins
ReplyDeletesatire is seen repeatedly throughout 18th century literature. in gullivers travels satire is used to sort of mock the people when they disagree on the way to eat eggs. in the modest proposal satire is used when discussing the severity of the poverty and the need to eat babies to help with over population. it was also very satirical that the rich people would be the ones to buy the babies. by doing this it kinda mocks the rich. this mocking is done i think to entertain to poor and the people living in poverty. i dont think that it literally means to eat babies.
ReplyDeleteSatire plays a important role in British 18th century. Authors in 18th century write their works with satire. They often criticized the corrupt politics and the growing commercialism and materialism of the people. And also they can express their ideas through their works.
ReplyDeleteOne of the satires' works is "The Vulture" by Samuel Johnson which satirizes the wars. In "The Vulture", the old vulture teaches the younger vulture a last lecture. They have a conversation over the human beings. The mother told the son "When we find a man we can only tear away his flesh, and leave his bones upon the ground." It symbols after all the wars there would have a lot of the dead bodies lay on the ground; it likes animals leave the bones upon the ground after they kill their prey. Then the son asked a question back "when men have killed their prey,' said the pupil, 'why do they not eat it?" Samuel satirizes there is no reason that humans have to have wars, which is the same way that the animals kill their prey but they will not eat it afterward. So humans shouldn't have wars between each other. Humans " had only the appearance of animal life, being really vegetables with a power of motion." He satirizes that humans have a fake animals appearance, actually their real appearance is full of power of motion.
"The Vulture" is being delivered that there is no reason humans need the wars through satire. Sometimes I think a satire is an effective way of conveying the wars messages to the humans, because authors can express their own ideas through the satire. But sometimes it isn't an effective way, because the readers don't get the satire and don't understand the authors' works well. Samuel writes "The Vulture" satirizes those humans fight with the wars are ridiculous because there is no reason that a war should start.
Emily Tsui
Satire is a way to make people see how messed up something is by removing them from the situation and allowing them to see it from an outsider’s perspective.
ReplyDeleteIn “The Rape of the Lock,” Pope is satirizing how important beauty is for the wealthy. The whole thing is about “stealing” something that is valued, which in this case, is beauty. In the end, it is stated how ridiculous the whole ordeal really is. Again, this takes those involved out of the situation and points out just how stupid the things people care about really are.
Bekah Tomlin.
In "Modest Proposal" Swift propses that starving people should eat babies.While that seems ridiculous, the way Swift presents it make's it seem the smart thing to do. He addresses the problem of starvation in a satirical way by solving people's problems by giving landowners babies to eat because that is the only form of food avaliable to them.
ReplyDeleteIn the Heroic Couplets by Alexander Pope, Pope writes about how he uses satire as a weapon. Satire is a metaphorical weapon that is just as shard as a literal weapon. Pope also calls himself a writer that is not brave enough to uses a real weapon, but will use his metaphorical weapon, satire, to express his true feelings.
I think Satire is an excellent way to prove a point, making something sound so bizarre, also makes a person realize a major point in how they are thinking of something all wrong. People can not always say exactly what them mean straight forward, but with satire, they can express themself more fully. Using satire makes writing more entertaining and enjoyable to read rather than just boring facts and random thoughts.
Taylor Landeros
For my blog I’d like to focus solely on Swift, because I truly find his work the most interesting.
ReplyDeleteSwift is HEAVILY satirizing the rich, higher class’s treatment of the poor in the 18th century. He is trying to convey that the poor are just as human as the rich. The way he uses satire here is ingenious: by seemingly dehumanizing the poor to the extent that giving life to their own flesh and blood is only an avenue to make money, instead of being out of love. He claims that “a young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled…” and a beggar could sell her children and make “eight shillings net profit.” The kicker? She will easily make the estimate two shillings back that it costs to raise the child for a year. He truly gets comical when he claims selling babies for meat (as one would sell a pig or a cow) would “prevent those voluntary abortions, and that horrid practice of women murdering their bastard children, alas! too frequent among us!” as if selling babies for meat is any better.
I love satire because in this case it has so much shock value. The reader is in awe of what he is saying and after he realizes it is satire I think it makes a huge effect on the reader. It grabs the reader’s attention and leaves an extremely lasting, memorable impression, while leading to the thoughts that the author INTENDED for the reader to have all along: the object/people he is satirizing which in this case is the rich, upper-class citizens. I think it’s a very memorable, long-lasting approach that makes people think more than the conventional author complaining about how screwed up society is! It can be much more difficult to understand, but the message is so much more powerful if the reader will push past the surface and look deep into the literature. God gave us brains; might as well use them.
^^^Katie Cheek. Sorrrrrry.
ReplyDeleteAlso that is two paragraphs. I typed it in word but when I copied it over it didn't put the spaces right. "I love satire because in this case it has so much shock value." is the first sentence of the second paragraph.
ReplyDeleteSatire played a huge role in the literature of the eighteenth century. The writers used this as a way to convey a certain message to the reader. They would say things in a way that would make you have to really think when you were reading.
ReplyDeleteOne great example of satire that we have studied is "A Modest Proposal." Jonathan Swift was trying to make the point that the Irish Government was very corrupt and evil. The lower class people were dying of starvation. Therefore, Swift made a satirical proposal that eating babies would solve this problem because there would be less children to feed, and the babies would serve as a tasty delicacy that many of the upper class people would enjoy and be willing to pay a lot of money for. This would help the lower class people to survive their harsh living conditions. But Swift's proposal was not actually serious. He wrote it satirically as a way to make fun of the Government by saying that they would actually consider something that crazy. This was the Age of Reason and people did what they had to in order to survive.
Obviously, satire proves to be an extremely effective way to get a message across to a group of people. It is a way of getting the attention of people and actually make them think about and consider different things that they might normally not do. Satire helps people the think outside of the box.
Caroline Campbell
Satire was used in eighteenth century British literature. Authors like Jonathan Swift and Alexander Pope use satire in their writings to review poverty of peasant, arrogance of nobles, and political affairs at that time. Some of these literatures such as “Gulliver’s Travels,” “A Modest Proposal,” and “A Description of a City Shower,” contain the element of satire.
ReplyDeleteIn “Gulliver’s Travel,” Jonathan Swift presents political situations of 18th century Great Britain by describing the struggles between Great Britain and France. In the story, Lilliput and Blefuscu have conflict over the way of breaking eggs, “… Emperor his father published an edict … to break the smaller end of their eggs.… These civil commotions were constantly fomented by the monarchs of Blefuscu; and when they were quelled, the exiles always fled for refuge to the country… that a bloody war has been carried on between the two empires.” Swift satires Great Britain and France fight each other over little things.
Jonathan Swift also uses satire to ridicule British noblemen in “A Modest Proposal.” In the passage, Swift proposes an idea to solve the problem of poverty by having nobles and royalties paying mothers for their children to become food, that children “at a year old, be offered in the sale to the persons of quality and fortune through the kingdom… so as to render them plump and fat for a good table.” Swift believed the method can reduces the number of Catholics, helps tenants to pay their rents, increases national treasury of fifty thousand pounds per year, increases salary of poor mother, creates a new kind of dishes, and encourages marriage. Swift satires British noblemen and royalties’ cruelness and evilness that the noblemen are the only people who will follow the proposal’s instructions and pay mothers to have children meat.
Jonathan Swift also uses satire in “A Description of a City Shower.” Swift ridicules the differences between royalties and peasants in a rainfall. “Triumphant Tories and desponding Whigs, / Forget their feuds, and join to save their wigs,” describes royalties afraid of getting wet and hide inside a building. “Brisk Susan whips her Linen from the Rope, / … Flirts on you from her Mop, / …she singing, still whirls on her Mop,” describing peasants enjoy and happy of rain fall. Swift satires royalties love to take care of their beauty, while peasants do not care.
I think author should just plainly speak of their view. Because message is not clearly viewing to readers, readers sometimes will falsely guessing the message of the satire. Author plainly speaking of their view is easier to understand, and to deliver their messages.
Caesar Tang
In all of the stories i have read, the best one that i could think of is A Modest Propsal. Satire is used many times in the Eighteen century. Jonathan Swift overexaggerates his solution of poverty to bring about a change. By suggesting to eat babies Jonathan encourages other to become more aware of the rising poverty.It says "I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore veryproper for landlords, who, as they have already ate their parents." which talks bout eating other people.
ReplyDeleteBy using satire, the author runs the risk that some people may not be able to understand what they are saying. Satire leaves room for misinterpretations. The should explain it better by not using satire. Satire is to hard to figure out.
Chris Macke
I dont know your email so im just going to tell you one here. I didnt do my blog yesterday because i was at a place with no computer. Please take this please.
ReplyDeletethank, Chris Macke
Compared with the straight criticism, the satire lets us feel more amused and impressed. Especially Jonathan Swift, he uses his skillful and merciless satire to describe the situation of England at that time. Especially for the ruling class's corruption, incompetence, boredom, sinister, debauchery, greed, and arrogance.
ReplyDeleteIn his "A Modest Proposal", he is effortless to carry out a positive story, so that makes the reader feel uncertain. But actually it creates a contrary effect. For example, he talks about the obvious criticism of colonial policy and claims it has no connection with the British nation, but in fact he exposes the real conspiracy of the British royal government. Conversely, he proclaims his love for his motherland again and again. In the text, he imitates the tone of the advisor to concern the future fate of his country and suggests to sell the Irish poor baby to the rich people as dishes. It is not only solve the problem of overpopulation but also give the rich people a lot of fun. Furthermore, he proposed to use the skinned body to make refined lady gloves and cool gentlemen sandal and buy some live children in order to slaughter them as fresh as possible, just as the way to roast a pork. Then he analyses the six benefits of this proposal to bring out the cruel and inhuman policy of British colonial rule. The title is also a perfect satire. It is a modest proposal, but actually it is a extremely practical cruel vicious outrageous claim. So this article has become a terrifying indictment of British colonialism.
In conclusion, after I read "A Modest Proposal", I really think satire is an effective way of conveying. There is no doubt about Swift's excellent language skill and keen observation ability. "A Modest Proposal" deeply describes the British colonial government's ruthless rule and brutal oppression for the Irish people. He uses the gentle words to get an unexpected effects. That is the effect of the satire.
Wayne Shen
19th century literature contains many instances of satire. Satire played an important role to readers of the day, because it gave them some releif or made them laugh at their poor position in life and time. it is a form of entertainment. Swift is one of the more satirical writers of the day. his work, "The Modest Proposal", satirizes the rich, and the poor condition of the lower classes.
ReplyDeleteIn "The Rape of Lock", pope satirizes the importance of small and feutal things, such as hair/beauty. the lady in the story feels like
shes lost everything after losing her hair. this is also a poke at the rich. Satire was a form or releif and entertainment for the people of the 19th centery.
Austin Cole
In A Description of a City Shower, the author makes fun on different people’s reaction in the rain, especially the two opposing parties, “Triumphant Tories and desponding Whigs/ Forget their feurs, and join to save their wigs,” “When Troy chairmen bore the wooden steed, Pregnant with Greeks impatient to be freed,” and “Laocoon struck outside with his spear, And each imprisoned hero quaked for fear.” He ironically told the readers about the government.
ReplyDeleteIn the Modest Proposal, Swift said “so many good Protestants have chosen rather to leave their county than sat at home and pay tithes against their conscience,” and a lot of problems. Swift wanted to give the best ideas for the country. He wanted to propose the principles for the whole world.
In The Diary, the author said that the king rather went to sleep than took care of the fire. It is irony that the king ignores the lives and all the things, even though just for a while.
Satire is very effective to bring the ideas because readers can think about it. It can also leave a more easy-memorized idea. Satire can also make the poem a better work and show a clearer idea.
19th century literature contains many instances of satire. Satire played an important role to readers of the day, because it gave them some relief or made them laugh at their poor position in life and time. It is a form of entertainment. Swift is one of the more satirical writers of the day. His work, "The Modest Proposal", satirizes the rich by saying, “the skin of which, artificially dressed, will make admirable gloves for ladies, and summer boots for fine gentlemen” (page 505). He satirically comes up with a solution the problem; eating children. He states, “Infant’s flesh will be in season throughout the year, but more plentiful in March…” (Page 504). This statement is extremely satirical, because it is so outlandish. While yes, people were despite, and the rich had some very strange habits, it did not go to this extent.
ReplyDeleteIn "The Rape of Lock", pope satirizes the importance of small and feudal things, such as hair/beauty, saying “… to mourn thy ravished hair, which adds new glory to the shining sphere” (lines 49-50). He’s satirically saying that her hair brings more glory to the sun. The lady in the story feels like she’s lost everything after losing her hair. This is also a poke at the rich.
Satire was a form or relief and entertainment for the people of the 19th century. It is very important in seeing the true feeling of the time. People were in hard times, but were still able to laugh at things. They made fun of events and situations much like we do today. Satire was only one aspect of the writings of this time.
Austin Cole
Satire is a way to expose or criticize the bad or stupid phenomenon by metaphor or hyperbole approach. In my opinion, satire is not only an effective way of conveying a message but also a way to show the authors’ feeling. The authors always find out many different classes’ life, and know more information about the society. So a lot of authors will use satire to expose the true background of society. Some of them will quip obviously, but some of them may satirize during the stories by a secret way.
ReplyDeleteIn the “Gulliver’s Travels” and “A Voyage to Brobdingnag”, Jonathan Swift satirize some aristocracies and greedy class. Such as the King of Lilliput, he is arrogant and militant, this is a kind of classes of the society Swift lived. They have social status and money, so they think they are at the position to control others, they will kill whoever do not do as they say. But they will never satisfied about that, they are wolves. And the Brobdingnag Farmer is poor but also rapacious, he takes Gulliver as a money-making tool, this is another different kind of greedy, but this is because he is poor.
In the “Letter to Lord Chesterfield”, Samuel Johnson quip Chesterfield obviously compared with Swift. He says in the letter that it is too late for Chesterfield to sponsor him, what Chesterfield wants is the reputation of his work. He does not like the way Chesterfield takes and assails this behavior.
In eighteen century, satire is a method that most of authors used in their articles. In general, satire means that using metaphor and exaggeration, etc. ways to expose or criticize the undesirable behavior. In eighteen century, there is no free speech allowed. As a result, satire became a hidden way to express the political disadvantages. Meanwhile, satire can be easily accept by readers with its property of stories and fun, comparing to those lengthy academic articles. For instance, in “Gulliver's Travels”, nations had serious battles around the problem --- what side to eat eggs. It indicates that the local government argues on the tiny things that they should not focus on.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, satire is a effective way to express ideas. Such as in “A Modest Proposal”, author suggested that people of Scotland can eat their own babies to pass through the famine, which was a satire to show how different between poor and rich people in Scotland. Satire is using a terminus to show another terminus view. Using some unacceptable or different to common sense views can bring a sense of anger. Readers will feel how emergent the situation is and have wills to change the condition author describes. This wills will easy lead them to accept what author suggests. Sometimes, satire is just a exaggerating tool to show what the problem is. The more exaggerating the story shows, the more serious the conflict is. The concept will be easily accept in the condition that the problems are serious. Also, authors often create satires in the way that people motivate bigger than they should be. Little things in our daily life could be the central of the conflict and the whole story usually has a bad end. Reader may feel fresh through the whole story and start thinking about why those characters in the story do such thing. It is a kind of trap that authors set to gradually take charge of the minds.
In the story Gulliver's travels it talks about how when a office was vacant the candidates would"dance on the rope, whoever jumps the highest without falling, succeeds in the office." We see here how Swift is making fun of how people come to office a lot of times. I think that here we really see the satire but a lot of times it is lost if people don't know a lot about the history of the story.
ReplyDeleteIn the story Gulliver's travels it talks about how when a office was vacant the candidates would"dance on the rope, whoever jumps the highest without falling, succeeds in the office." We see here how Swift is making fun of how people come to office a lot of times. I think that here we really see the satire but a lot of times it is lost if people don't know a lot about the history of the story.
ReplyDelete"It is alleged indeed, that the high heels are most agreeable to our ancient constitution: But however this be , his Majesty hath determined to make use of only low heels in the administration of the government..." This example is part of how everyone was fighting over dumb stuff in the government.
I think that satire is an excellent way of conveying a message. I think that sometimes people who don't read really well don't catch on to the irony. in some cases i think that authors should just speak their minds.
I think the authors need to speak plainly about what they think because if they use satire some people might not understand it, but if they speak plainly then they will understand what the story is talking about.
ReplyDeleteLike in Gulliver's travel they talk about the lowheals and the highheals and how they represent this today without actully telling what they mean. They need to just go ahead an tell us what they are talking about so we dont have to spend forever trying to figure it out. "That the highheals are most agreeable to our ancient constitution."
I feel that Satire plays a very important role in each of the stories that we are reading. In my group, we are searching for disasters, which can easily be found through satire.
ReplyDeleteThe story that I have been told to focus on for the group is "The Rape of the Lock." In this story, it satirizes that people get upset over very small things and that they will near wage war to get what they want. In "The Rape of the Lock," a man cuts off a lock of hair from this lady whom has very gorgeous hair. The lady takes a great offence to this act and creates a huge battle of the sexes to get the lock of hair back. The girl even threatens to kill in order to get the lock back. I feel that this is very satirical of the people of this time, in showing how eccentric they are and how they blow minor things out of proportion.
I feel that satire is very important in these stories and that it is very effective to the people who read it. Without the satirical element, the stories would not only be boring to read, but the message would not be near as strong as if it were just stated plainly. If the authors of these stories just stated that they didn’t like something and that it should be changed, it would likely have been ignored.
Stefan Bushey